Fireplace log molder



1962 A. E. STRICKMAN 3,070,485

FIREPLACE LOG MOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1960 Mails/T011. AL FRED E. $TRTCKMAN BYW, W )M ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1962 Filed Nov. 7, 1960 A. E. STRICKMAN 3,070,485, FIREPLACE LOG MOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PAPER SHREDDER k :b WATER DRAIN /PULP SLURRY COMPRESSED PULP IOEAAA/SIMULATING QUARTER L06 INVENTOR. ALFRED E. STRIOKMA/V A T TORNEYS United States Patent 055cc 3,070,485 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,070,485 FIREPLACE LOG MOLDER Alfred E. Strickman, 4084 Riviera Drive, San Diego 9, Calif. Filed Nov. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 67,732 8 Claims. (Cl. 162-435) The present invention relates to the method or process of manufacturing, from waste paper, elements which simulate fireplace log portions and also relates to the element so formed.

In carrying out the process, waste paper or the like,

such as newspaper, is shredded to form a pulp-like mass. This mass is then mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry is then placed in a mold having apertures. The slurry is then compressed to remove the major portions of the water and to shape the material into the form of a-log portion. This material is then dried.

. The advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the machine for forming the elements that simulate fireplace log portions;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine on a smaller scale; 7

FIG. 3 is an end view of a pair of the perforated plates on which the slurry rests at the time pressure is applied thereto;

FIG. 4 is a flow sheet illustrating the steps in the process; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the simulated log sections.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame 22. This frame includes two substantially A-shaped side frames 24 and 26 each of which includes uprights 28 and 30 which angle toward one another upwardly and are joined with one another and with like pairs by a transversely disposed C-shaped angle iron 32. The upper ends of the steel uprights 28 and 30 and the angle iron 32 are covered with finishing plates 34. The uprights 28 and 30 are joined with one another for reinforcing purposes by angle irons 36, substantially midway of the height of these uprights. Angle irons 38 are attached to the extreme bottom of the uprights 28 and 30 and form guideways which extend forwardly of the uprights 28 and 30. The front ends of these angle irons are suitably connected with one another by a metallic strap 39; such attachment may be by welding. The uprights 28 and 30 are further braced by angle irons 40. The parts thus described are suitably secured to one another as by bolts or welding.

The guideways 38 carry a drawer 42. This drawer is suitably open at the bottom for the passage of water therethrough. The drawer includes a front 44, a rear 46, a left side 48 and a right side 50. Triangularly shaped, upright supporting webs 52 are suitably carried within the drawer. These webs extend longitudinally of the length of the drawer. Preferably a plurality of these webs are provided but only one is shown. These webs are spaced transversely of one another and held in place by rods 54. The drawer is provided with a handle 56 for manipulating the same. The drawer is shown in its pulled-out position.

The machine also includes a hopper 60 including side walls 62 and 64, a front wall 66 and a rear wall 68. These side walls are suitably secured, as by welding, to the uprights 28 and 30. These side walls merge into angle iron guideways 70 at all four corners, and these guideways are secured to the uprights 28 and 30 by straps 72. These guideways 70' guide a pressure plate 74, preferably formed of metal and which is reinforced by straps 76 which are welded thereto.

This pressure plate 74 is raised and lowered by a hydraulic motor 80. The motor 80 includes a cylinder 82 and a ram 84. This ram is suitably fastened to the pressure plate 74. The cylinder 82 extends through the C- shaped angle iron 32 and is attached to a pin 86. This pin is carried by spaced uprights 88 which extend upwardly from the angle iron 32 and are secured thereto as by welding. These plates are braced by struts 90. A 'C-shaped clamp 92 is attached to the cylinder 82 near the bottom thereof, and this C-clamp is held in position by rods 94 which are secured to the angle iron 36.

A plurality of plates 96 rest at an angle upon the webs 52. Preferably these plates are made in pairs and are suitably hinged to one another, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 3, by resilient wires 98. ,These plates are provided with a plurality of apertures 100.

In operating the device, the drawer 42 is moved to its rearmost position, namely underneath the open bottom hopper 60. Then a predetermined quantity of slurry is placed in the hopper and likewise in the drawer, preferably through the open front 102 of the hopper. Then the pressure plate 74 is driven downwardly by the hydraulic motor to squeeze out water from theslurry, the water passing through the perforations 100 and out of the bot tom of the drawer 42. After a predetermined amount of pressure is applied, the plate 74 is lifted by the motor 80. The drawer 42is thenpulled forwardly and thereafter the plates 96 with the molded material, are removed and placed in a drying oven. p In carrying out the process a mixture is made of approximately 96% water and 4% waste paper, such 'as newspaper. This material is so mixed in the pulper where the newspaper is shredded. After the water and pulplike material are thoroughly mixed into a slurry, this slurry is then removed from the pulper and placed in a thickening chest, where 44% to 65%, and preferably approximately 55% of the water is drained off. At this time the mixture will be approximately 91% or 92% water and the remaining portion will be pulp. This mixture or slurry is then placed in the mold, namely through the hopper 60 and onto the grids or plates 96. 33% to 40%, and preferably 40% of the water is pressed out by the pressure plate 74. It has been found desirable to limit the pressure to between 1,000 and 1,500 p.s.i.

The apertures 100 in the mold plates or grids 96 should have a maximum dimension of of an inch and a minimum limit of A; of an inch, and preferably these apertures are formed by circular holes inch in diameter. It has been found that it is too difficult to remove the water from the slurry if the apertures are less than /s of an inch in width and it has also been found that if the apertures have a greater width than inch, the pulp will be pushed through the apertures. It has also been found that if the p.s.i. applied to the slurry is less than 1,000, the resulting material burns too quickly, and it has also been found that if the p.s.i. is materially increased above 1,500, the resulting material will not burn satisfactorily. By maintaining the pressure between 1,000 and 1,500 and preferably at 1,500 p.s.i., the resulting material will burn like hickory. oak and similar fireplace wood logs. The plates or grids 96 being disposed at an angle gives the appearance of log portions which have been quartered.

Such simulated log portions 102 as herein produced, when thoroughly dry, weigh approximately 9.81 pounds per cubic foot, that is, when they are dried to a constant wei ht at 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

The logs 102 when dry are preferably dipped in a melted wax such as paraffin which materially lowers the kindling temperature thereof and reduces the ash content. As an example such log 102 before being treated with Wax, has a kindling temperature of 775 degrees Fahrenheit and an ash residue of 1.42%, whereas the same type of log which has been treated with wax has a kindling temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit and an ash residue of .89%.

It will be understood that the plates 96 can have suitable wrinkles or ridges therein so as to more closely simu late a split or quartered log, and also the wax could be colored so as to simulate-various different types of quartered wood.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided aprocess for simulating portions of fireplace logs which resultantmaterial can be produced at a materially lower expense than the cost of similar fireplace wood.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be under stood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim: r

1. The process of transforming waste paper or the like into elements which simulate fireplace log portions whiehconsists in: shredding suchpaper to form a pulplike mass and mixing the same with water to form a slurry; draining water from the mixed slurry to suchextent so that'a mixture willremain containing approxi: mately 9-1 water andthe remainingipor tion pulpg placing suchlatter slurry mixture in a mold having apertures and compressing the slurry under pressure of between one thousandpsi. and fifteen hundred p.s.i., to remove approximately 40% of the water and shape the material in the form of alog portion; thendryingthe pulp so shapedp I 2. The process as defined inclaim 1, inwhich the maximum and minimum widthsof theapertures are limited to between three-eighths and one-eighth inch 3. The process. as definedin claim 1, in whielithe dried simulated log portion is subjected to a melted liquid wax.

4. An element which simulates a fireplace log portion formed from the material and by the process as defined in claim 1.

5. The steps in the process of simultaneously transforming waste paper or the like into a plurality of elements, each simulating fireplace log portions such as quartered logs, which steps consist in: shredding such paper to form a pulp-like mass and mixing the same with water to form a slurry; draining water from the mixed slurry to such extent so that a mixture will remain containing approximately 91% water and the remaining portion pulp; placing such latter slurry mixture in a mold bottom including a plurality of horizontally disposed apertured plates, arranged so as to simulate serrations in transverse cross section; compressing said latter slurry against said bottom to remove approximately 40% of the water; removing the elements from the mold; then drying thepulp.

6. The process as defined in claim 5, in which the maximum and minimum widths of the apertures are limited to between three-eights and one-eighth inch.

7. The process as defined in claim 5, in which the slurry is compressed under pressures between one thousa'nd psi; and fifteen hundred p.s.'i., and in which the maximum and minimum widths of the apertures are llm'-' ited to between three-eiahths and one-eighth inch.

8. The process as defined in claim 5, in which the dried simulated log portion is subjected to a melted liquid wax.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,625,133 Mohler Apr. 19, 1927 2,026,765 Wcodford Jan. 7, 1936 2,475,766 Williams July 12,1949 2,628,540 Randall Feb. 17, 1953 

1.THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING WASTE PAPER OR THE LIKE INTO ELEMENTS WHICH SIMULATE FIREPLACE LOG PORTIONS WHICH CONSISTS IN: SHREDDING SUCH PAPER TO FORM A PULPLIKE MASS AND MIXING THE SAME WITH WATER TO FORM A SLURRY; DRAINING WATER FROM THE MIXED SLURRY TO SUCH EXTEND SO THAT A MIXTURE WILL REMAIN CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 91% WATER AND THE REMAINING PORTION PULP; PLACING SUCH LATTER SLURRY MIXTURE IN A MOLD HAVING APERTURES AND COMPRSESING THE SLURRY UNDER PRESSURE OF BETWEEN ONE THOUSAND P.S.I. AND FIFTEEN HUNDRED P.S.I., TO REMOVE APPROXIMATELY 40% OF WATER AND SHAPE THE MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF A LOG PORTION; THEN DRYING THE PULP SO SHAPED. 